Propodeal Spiracle Research Articles

A new species of the ant Platythyreaclypeata species group (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Ponerinae) from continental Asia.

The Platythyreaclypeata species group is reviewed and three species, including one new species, P.homasawini sp. nov., are recognized. This species group is distinguished from the P.parallela species group by the reddish-brown body, the elliptical shape of the propodeal spiracle, the elongate antennal scape, and the distinctly narrowed posteriad space between frontal carinae. Platythyreahomasawini sp. nov., from Thailand and China, is described based on the worker caste. The type series of the new species was collected on the forest floor from dead wood in an advanced stage of decomposition. A key to the Oriental species of the genus Platythyrea based on the worker caste is provided.

A new monotypic genus of the subfamily Tetrastichinae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea: Eulophidae) from China

New genus Zhijilingia Xu, Liu et He, gen. n. (type species: Zhijilingia tettigonia Xu, Liu et He, sp. n.) is described from Sichuan, South China. This new genus can be distinguished from other genera of Tetrastichinae by following characters: antenna with 3 anelli and 4 funicular segments, only one clava segment, all funicular segments slender and longer than broad, funicular segments almost same in length, mesoscutum without a median line, propodeum with a distinct median carina, the whole rim of propodeal spiracle exposed, postmarginal vein absent. The new species probably parasitize eggs of the katydids Prohimerta dispar (Bey-Bienko, 1951) (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae).

Contribution to the taxonomy of Mexican Tersilochinae (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae), with descriptions of five new species

Five new species of Tersilochinae (Ichneumonidae) are described from Mexico: Meggoleus hidalgoensissp. nov., M. whartoni Khalaim, sp. nov., Phradis belovi Khalaim, sp. nov., Stethantyx covidasp. nov., and St. oaxacanasp. nov.Meggoleus whartoni Khalaim, sp. nov. is also recorded from Panama, and St. covidasp. nov. from Guatemala. The species recently described from Mexico Probles contrerasi Khalaim & Ruíz-Cancino is transferred to the genus Gelanes Horstmann, comb. nov. A partial key to the species of Meggoleus with small propodeal spiracles and a key to Mexican species of Phradis are provided.

Noyesaphytis (Chalcidoidea: Aphelinidae) – an unusual new genus from Madagascar, and a reassessment of Aphelininae classification based on morphology

ABSTRACT Noyesaphytis Polaszek & Woolley gen. nov. (type species Noyesaphytis lasallei Polaszek & Woolley sp. n. ) is described from Berenty, Tuléar, Madagascar. The genus differs from its closest relatives primarily in the structure of the female antenna, which has a single, elongate flagellum preceded by four anelli, the largest of which could be interpreted as a single anelliform funicle. This type of antenna is unknown in other Aphytini, but approaches the condition found in many Signiphoridae. Noyesaphytis possesses a character state that was until now thought to be an autapomorphy of Azotidae (sole genus Ablerus), being the groove in front of the propodeal spiracle. A second putative autapomorphy shared by Azotidae and Signiphoridae, and also Noyesaphytis, is the presence of anterior projections on the metasomal sterna. However, in Azotidae and Signiphoridae these are narrow, whereas as they are broader in Noyesaphytis. The form of the wing is consistent with Aphytini, although lacking a linea calva. The presumed male of Noyesaphytis lasallei has an antennal structure completely unknown in Aphelinidae, with a 1-segmented clava preceded by an extremely elongate single funicle, and four anelli. Differences between the female and male are discussed, some of which could indicate that the male might eventually be shown to belong to a different species, although the species are undoubtedly congeneric, despite the striking difference in antennal structure which is common in Aphelinidae. The male genitalia also suggest Aphytini. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of 50 morphological characters, we provisionally place Noyesaphytis in Aphytini pending the results of a forthcoming phylogenomic analysis. The new genus is named for its collector, John Noyes (NHM, London), and the new species is named after the late John La Salle. http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:6EE6F35C-32A4-4E91-AE39-5E2C173E58BF

Review of the Arabian Crematogaster Lund (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), synoptic list, distribution, and description of two new species from Oman and Saudi Arabia.

The genus Crematogaster is one of the most species-rich and widespread groups of ants. Despite their often-high local abundance and important ecological interactions, the taxonomy of the genus is fragmentary and in great need of modern revisionary studies. As a first step towards a revision for the Arabian fauna of Crematogaster, a review of all known species with synoptic species accounts is provided. Seventeen species are recognized and illustrated from the Arabian Peninsula, of which two new species are described: C. jacindae Sharaf & Hita Garcia, sp. nov. from the Dhofar Governorate, Oman, and C. gryllsi Sharaf & Hita Garcia, sp. nov. from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) based on the worker caste. Crematogaster jacindaesp. nov. is easily separated from the remainder of the Arabian Crematogaster fauna due to its complete lack of propodeal spines, slit-shaped propodeal spiracles, and its distinct bicoloration, whereas C. gryllsisp. nov. is readily distinguished by its unlobed postpetiolar dorsum. Furthermore, new country records are presented: C. acaciae Forel for the KSA and Yemen, and C. delagoensis Forel and C. jehovae Forel for the KSAC. antaris for Qatar, whereas C. luctans Forel is excluded from the Arabian fauna. In addition, on the basis of morphological examination of original type material, C. affabilis Forel is proposed as junior synonym of C. chiarinii Mayr, and C. striaticeps is elevated to species rank stat. nov. Furthermore, a new identification key for the Arabian species is provided, as well as distribution maps for all species.

Long-leggedness in cataglyphoid Baltic amber ants

All truly thermophilic ants inhabiting the subtropical belts of our planet—Cataglyphis (Formicinae) in the southern Palearctic region, Ocymyrmex (Myrmicinae) in southern Africa and Melophorus (Formicinae) in Australia—are characterised by extremely long legs and remarkable locomotor agility including extremely high running speeds (relative to body size). In the classic surveys of the rich assemblages of Eocene Baltic amber ants, Gustav Mayr (1868) and William Morton Wheeler (1915) described a few specimens that exhibited some Cataglyphis-like traits. They assigned them to the genera Camponotus and Formica, respectively, but more recently Gennady Dlussky (2008) considered these traits sufficient enough to establish a new genus—Cataglyphoides—for them. Using micro-computed tomographic 3D reconstructions, we show that the relative lengths of the Cataglyphoides legs and the relative contributions of different leg segments (femur, tibia, basitarsus) to the lengths of the legs, fully fit the allometric functions determined for extant Cataglyphis species. Moreover, fossil Formica flori specimens taken from the same Baltic amber deposits have highly significantly shorter legs, and in this respect coincide with extant Formica species. It is also the cuneiform to nodiform petiole characterising the most agile extant Cataglyphis species and promoting their agility and the slit-like shape of the propodeal spiracle found in all truly thermophilic ants that we observe in Cataglyphoides. We discuss the occurrence of a cataglyphoid ant in Eocene northern Europe in the light of hypotheses about the phylogeography of extant Cataglyphis species and surmise that Cataglyphoides has evolved in parallel to, and in this context has acquired a set of traits characteristic for, the most highly advanced Cataglyphis species.

A new species of Allophrys Forster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae) with large propodeal spiracles from Indonesia

A new species of Allophrys Forster, 1869 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae) with large propodeal spiracles from Indonesia Allophrys Forster, 1869 is a moderately large tersilochine genus (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Tersilochinae) distributed mainly through the world tropics. Three species of Allophrys were known from the Oriental region hitherto: A. bruneiensis Khalaim, 2011 (Brunei), A. occipitata Khalaim, 2011 (Vietnam and East India) and A. cantonensis Reshchikov et Yue, 2017 (South China). In this paper, a new species of Allophrys, A. meggoleuca sp. nov. from Sulawesi Island in Indonesia, is described and illustrated. It differs from other Oriental species of the genus by its large propodeal spiracles, similar to those in the genus Meggoleus Townes, 1971. Allophrys meggoleuca sp. nov. is similar to the Afrotropical A. townesi (Khalaim, 2007), which also possesses enlarged propodeal spiracles, but differs from this species by its slender antennal flagellum (robust with shortened flagellomeres in A. townesi), propodeum with basal area (basal keel in A. townesi) and longer metacarpus in the fore wing (short and not reaching tip of the wing in A. townesi). Additionally, propodeal spiracles in A. townesi are much larger than those in A. meggoleuca. The small genus Meggoleus comprises three Neotropical species occurring from Guatemala to Peru and South Brazil, and a single Afrotropical species, M. townesi Khalaim, 2007 known only from Gabon. The Afrotropical species M. townesi Khalaim, 2007 is transferred to the genus Allophrys (comb. nov.). Colour illustrations of this species are provided for the first time.

Dinotrema kovali sp. nov., a new species of the genus Dinotrema Foerster, 1863 from the cave of the Crimean Peninsula (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Alysiinae)

A new species of the genus Dinotrema Foerster, 1863 with enlarged propodeal spiracles, D. kovali sp. nov. collected in the Mangupskaya I Cave on Baba-Dagh Mountain (Baba-Dagh Plateau) of the Bakhchisaray District of Crimean Peninsula, is described and illustrated. A new species is the most similar to the Western Palaearctic D. erythropum Foerster, 1863 and D. stigmaticum (Tobias, 1992). This is the first record of the genus Dinotrema in the caves of the Eastern Europe.

Discovery of the genus Glyphicnemis Förster in the Oriental Region (Hymenoptera, Ichneumonidae, Cryptinae).

The genus Glyphicnemis Förster, 1869 is newly recorded from the Oriental Region based on a new species, Glyphicnemis ganica Sheng & Li, sp. n., collected from Jiangxi Province, in the oriental part of China. This species resembles G. watanabei (Uchida, 1930) from Japan in the coloration of flagellum and the structure and colouration of metasomal tergites, but it can be distinguished by the density and length of clypeal setae, the large propodeal spiracle, and the sculpture of area superomedia. Illustrations of G. ganica and G. watanabei are provided. A key to the Asian species of this genus is also given.

Constraints on convergence: hydrophobic hind legs allow some male pollinator fig wasps early access to submerged females

ABSTRACTPollinator fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Agaonidae) display numerous adaptations linked to their obligate association with fig trees (Ficus). Ceratosolen fig wasps pollinate figs that often fill temporarily with liquid, and one clade has males with unusually long hind legs. We investigated their morphology and behaviour. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the cuticle of their hind legs is highly modified and covered with numerous hydrophobic setae and microtrichia that can prevent blockage of the wasps’ large propodeal spiracles by liquids. In deep liquid, the males floated on the surface, but when only a thin layer of liquid was present, the legs allowed males to access females without the risk of drowning. Access to females was facilitated by an air bubble that forms between the hind legs and maintains a column of air between the spiracles and the centre of the figs. Sexual selection should favour males that can gain earlier access to mates, and the modified legs represent an adaptation to achieve this. Convergent adaptations are known in some unrelated non-pollinating fig wasps that develop in similar liquid-filled figs, but these species have enlarged hydrophobic peritremata at the ends of their metasoma to protect the spiracles located there. Unlike non-pollinating fig wasps, pollinator males need to insert their metasoma deep into females’ galls during mating. This difference in mating behaviour has constrained the extent of convergence.

Five new species of Disepyris Kieffer, 1905 (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), with emended generic diagnosis.

Five new species of Disepyris Kieffer (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) are described and illustrated: D. kenyaensis Lim & Azevedo, sp. nov. (Kenya), D. fessus Lim & Azevedo, sp. nov., D. mongoliaensis Lim & Azevedo, sp. nov., D. prolatatus Lim & Azevedo, sp. nov. (Mongolia), D. niveus Lim & Azevedo, sp. nov. (United Arab Emirates) and the genus is first recorded from Yemen, based on a female of D. guigliae (Benoit). The diagnosis of Disepyris is emended by a combination of following characteristics: head with palpal formula 6:3; ventral surface of antennal flagellomeres III-XI with one pair of parallel basiconic sensillae; clypeus with median lobe distinctly wider than lateral lobe; eyes with sparse, very minute hairs; occipital carina present; mesonotum with notauli weakly carinate, present on anterior half of mesoscutum, median area without transverse foveolate or punctate groove; propodeal spiracle present antero-dorsally on propodeal disc, lateral surface of propodeum strigate; forewing without postmarginal vein, long radial flexion line present, medial flexion line divided into two apical lines. Legs polished without sculpture, appressed pubescence absent; mesotibia with sparse, short spines on apical half; hind basitarsus with one row of comb ventrally.

Gaoligongidris planodorsa, a New Genus and Species of the Ant Subfamily Myrmicinae from China with a Key to the Genera of Stenammini of the World (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

A new genus and species of the ant subfamily Myrmicinae collected from the Gaoligong Mountain Nature Reserve of the Hengduan Mountains, southwestern China, is described. The new genus, Gaoligongidris gen. nov., is close to Lasiomyrma Terayama & Yamane, but with anterior clypeal margin not angled, metanotal groove deeply impressed, propodeal spiracles large, propodeal spines long and slender, and petiolar peduncle longer than the node. The new genus is distributed in the Oriental region and belongs to the tribe Stenammini of Myrmicinae. A key to the known genera of Stenammini of the world based on worker and queen castes is provided.

Moczariella, a bizarre new genus of Mesitiinae (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) from Arab Peninsula

Mesitiinae include 203 species classified in 22 genera and four tribes. In this work we proposed a new genus. Moczariella centenaria Barbosa & Azevedo gen. et sp. nov. are described from United Arab Emirates. The main diagnostic characteristics is body wholly unfoveolate, clypeus without lateral lobes, post-occipital depression present, propodeum with discal carinae incomplete, and without posterior one, propodeal spiracle placed laterally, claws single, and genital basal ring with dorsal half distinctly longer than ventral one.

Kempfidris, a new genus of myrmicine ants from the Neotropical region (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

The new genus Kempfidris gen. nov. is described based on the workers of a single species, K. inusualis comb. nov., from Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Kempfidris inusualis comb. nov. was originally described by Fernández (2007) and provisionally placed in Monomorium awaiting a better understanding of the internal relationships in Myrmicinae. Kempfidris gen. nov. has a series of distinctive morphological characters including the mandibular configuration, vestibulate propodeal spiracle, propodeal carinae, and cylindrical micro-pegs on the posteromedian portion of abdominal tergum VI and anteromedian portion of abdominal tergum VII. This last trait appears to be autapomorphic for the genus.

A New Species of Afrotropical Ants in the GenusBothroponera(Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Ponerinae)

We describe a new species of AfrotropicalBothroponerafrom Whittlesea City, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. This species is unique among the AfricanBothroponeraas it is the only species with a horizontal propodeal spiracle. It is also the largest species of AfricanBothroponera(total length 14.80–15.65). The clypeus lacks a medial longitudinal carina, the head is subquadrate, the sculpture is mostly foveolate, and the second gastral segment nearly lacks sculpturing. We compare the new species to the similarB. cavernosaandB. cavernosavar.montivaga. We also compare the new species to all of the other 10 taxa that belong to thecavernosacomplex. A key to thecavernosacomplex species of the AfrotropicalBothroponerais provided along with diagnosis, comparison, distribution, habitat, biology, and etymology for the new species.

Two New Species of the Genus <I>Cataglyphis</I> Foerster, 1850 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) From Iran

Abstract. Two new species, Cataglyphis stigmatus sp. nov. and C. pubescens sp. nov. are described based on workers from Iran. The first species belongs to the bicolor species-group and clearly differs from all known species of this group by its yellow colour (except of C. lunaticus), but well distinguishes from the latter by the longer scape, by the lower propodeum, which dorsal surface is distinctly longer than the posterior one, by the less abundant standing hairs on the alitrunk and petiole, and especially by the much longer propodeal spiracles. Taxonomic position of C. pubescens is less clear, it shares features of the cursor-, emeryi- and emmae-groups, while differs from all species of these groups by the dense and long depressed pubescence on the head and alitrunk.

Diaphoromyrma, a new myrmicine ant genus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from North Eastern Brazil

Diaphoromyrma sofiae, new genus and new species, is a Myrmicinae ant described from workers from the State of Bahia, Brazil. This taxon is characterized by the following traits: Antenna 9-segmented with 2-segmented club, trapezoidal promesonotum in dorsal view, propodeal spiracles situated on the propodeal edges, and the fourth abdominal sternite with a pair of rounded recurved anterolateral extensions which curve up onto the dorsal surface of the segment. Apparently this ant is close to the genera Allomerus and Diplomorium in the Solenopsidini, but its tribal attribution remains difficult because of the inadequate resolution of the phylogenetic relationships within the Myrmicinae.

Parvimyrma gen. nov. belonging to the Solenopsis genus group from Vietnam (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae: Solenopsidini)

The myrmicine ant genus Parvimyrma is newly established for a single new species found from N. Vietnam. The genus is undoubtedly placed in the Solenopsis genus group, and it is distinguished from the other genera belonging to the genus group by a combination of the following features: posteromedian portion of clypeus narrowly inserted between frontal lobes; masticatory margin of mandible with 5 distinct teeth; antenna 11-segmented, with a 2-segmented club; eye completely absent; promesonotum in profile almost flat or very weakly convex dorsally; metanotal groove relatively shallowly impressed dorsally; propodeum unarmed; propodeal spiracle small, situated a little behind the midlength of the sides of propodeum; metapleural gland large; petiolar peduncle with a small anteroventral process; postpetiole narrowly attached to the anteriormost end of gaster; sting poorly developed.

Revisão taxonômica das espécies brasileiras de abelhas do gênero Lestrimelitta Friese (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponina)

Revisão taxonômica das espécies de abelhas do gênero Lestrimelitta Friese (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponina) que ocorrem no Brasil. Com base em caracteres morfológicos, como aqueles relacionados com a pilosidade, o formato do espiráculo propodeal, as distâncias interorbitais e o comprimento do esporão mesotibial, são reconhecidas catorze espécies, seis das quais novas para a Ciência: L. ciliata. sp. nov., L. maracaia sp. nov., L. similis sp. nov., L. spinosa sp. nov., L sulina. sp. nov. e L. tropica sp. nov. São designados lectótipos para Trigona (Lestrimelitta) limao var. rufipes Friese, 1903 e Trigona (Lestrimelitta) limao var. rufa Friese, 1903. O macho de L. limao (Smith, 1863) é descrito pela primeira vez. É apresentada também uma diagnose das seguintes espécies: L. ehrhardti Friese, 1931; L. glaberrima Oliveira & Marchi, 2005; L. glabrata Camargo & Moure, 1989; L. monodonta Camargo & Moure, 1989; e L. nana Melo, 2003. São apresentados chaves de identificação para operárias e machos, ilustrações e mapas de ocorrência.

Taxonomic notes on Old World Stephanidae (Hymenoptera): description of Parastephanellus matsumotoi sp. n. from Japan, redescription of Commatopus xanthocephalus (Cameron) and keys to the genera Profoenatopus van Achterberg and Megischus Brullé

mopolitan family, members of which occur mainly in subtropical and tropical forests. The species are usually medium-sized to large: length of the fore wing ranging from 2 to 20 mm, the length of the body of the largest species reach (including ovipositor) up to 75 mm (in the genera Megischus Brulle, 1846, and Profoenatopus van Achterberg, 2002). Up to now 325 extant species are known, including the species in this paper (Aguiar 2004, Achterberg & Yang 2004). Stephanids are conspicuous in having a ‘crown’ or ‘corona’ on the head (figs. 6, 15), the pronotum being more or less modified (figs. 2, 4, 12, 13), the propodeal spiracle slit-like and situated subapically next to the condylus of the first tergite, and the hind femur and tibia modified (figs. 7, 8). Nearly all species known from forested habitats are black or dark brown, frequently with some parts (especially of head and legs) yellowish-, orangeor reddish-brown. Small parts of the body may be ivory and often the ovipositor sheath has a silvery white or ivory subapical band. The scanty biological information indicates that Stephanidae are idiobiont ectoparasitoids of wood boring larvae (van Achterberg 2002). Stephanids are often found around tree trunks or branches of trees that are dead for about one year, inhabited by beetle larvae and not yet heavily infested by fungi. Stephanidae are nearly always reported as parasitoids